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Planet Earth...and You!
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 42 hours
  • Course by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Offered by

About

Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, ice ages, landslides, floods, life evolution, plate motions"all of these phenomena have interacted over the vast expanses of deep time to sculpt the dynamic planet that we live on today. Planet Earth presents an overview of several aspects of our home, from a geological perspective. We begin with earthquakes"what they are, what causes them, what effects they have, and what we can do about them. We will emphasize that plate tectonics"the grand unifying theory of geology"explains how the map of our planet's surface has changed radically over geologic time, and why present-day geologic activity"including a variety of devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes"occur where they do. We consider volcanoes, types of eruptions, and typical rocks found there. Finally, we will delve into the processes that produce the energy and mineral resources that modern society depends on, to help understand the context of the environment and sustainability challenges that we will face in the future.

Modules

Orientation

    • 8 Readings
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8 Readings

  • Welcome to Planet Earth...and You!
  • Syllabus
  • Google Earth Instructions
  • Updating Your Profile
  • Social Media
  • About the Discussion Forums
  • How Graded Discussions Work
  • Discussion Rubric

Orientation Activities

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Orientation Quiz

Week 1 Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 1 Overview

Lesson 1A: Just What Is an Earthquake?

    • 5 Videos
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5 Videos

  • 1.A.1 Introduction to Earthquakes
  • 1.A.2 Generation of Earthquake Vibrations
  • 1.A.3 Introduction to Faults
  • 1.A.4 Types of Faults
  • 1.A.5 Earthquake Waves

Lesson 1B: Recording and Measuring Shakes

    • 4 Videos
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4 Videos

  • 1.B.1 The Intensity and Magnitude of Earthquakes
  • 1.B.2 Seismometers
  • 1.B.3 Interpreting Seismograms and Earthquake Magnitude
  • 1.B.4 Comparing Earthquakes

Lesson 1C: Consequences of Shakes

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • 1.C.1 Damage Due to Ground Shaking
  • 1.C.2 Other Consequences of Earthquakes
  • 1.C.3 Tsunamis

Lesson 1D: Prediction and Preparation

    • 5 Videos
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5 Videos

  • 1.D.1 The First Step in Predicting Earthquakes: Recognizing Where They Occur
  • 1.D.2 Earthquake Recurrence Interval
  • 1.D.3 Interpreting The Recurrence Interval
  • 1.D.4 Efforts to Prevent Earthquake Devastation
  • 1.D.5 Mitigating Earthquake Damage

Week 1 Activities

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 1 Quiz
  • Week 1 Assignment
  • Week 1 Lab

1 Discussions

  • Week 1 Discussion

1 Videos

  • Week 1 Lab: Triangulation Lab

Week 2 Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 2 Overview

Lesson 2A: Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading

    • 6 Videos
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6 Videos

  • 2.A.1 Ideas before Plate Tectonics
  • 2.A.2 Alfred Wegener & Continental Drift
  • 2.A.3 Evidence for Continental Drift
  • 2.A.4 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Seafloor Bathymetry
  • 2.A.5 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Apparent Polar-Wander Paths
  • 2.A.6 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Lesson 2B: Plates

    • 9 Videos
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9 Videos

  • 2.B.1 Discovering Plate Tectonics
  • 2.B.2 Earth's Internal Layers and the Concept of a Plate
  • 2.B.3 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Divergent Plate Boundary
  • 2.B.4 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Convergent Plate Boundary
  • 2.B.5 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Transform Plate Boundary
  • 2.B.6 Continental Rifts and Continental Collisions
  • 2.B.7 Intraplate Earthquakes
  • 2.B.8 The Velocity of Plate Motion
  • 2.B.9 Plate Driving Mechanisms

Week 2 Activities

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 2 Quiz
  • Week 2 Assignment
  • Week 2 Lab

1 Peer Review

  • Weeks 1-2 Discussion Samples

1 Discussions

  • Week 2 Discussion

2 Videos

  • Week 2 Lab: Plate Tectonics! Lab Part 1
  • Week 2 Lab: Plate Tectonics! Lab Part 2

Week 3 Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 3 Overview

Lesson 3A: Where Does Molten Rock Come From?

    • 7 Videos
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7 Videos

  • 3.A.1 Introducing Volcanoes and the Concept of Molten Rock
  • 3.A.2 Where Does Molten Rock Come From?
  • 3.A.3 How Does Rock Melt?
  • 3.A.4 Forming Molten Rock; a Magma Composition
  • 3.A.5 Volcanoes Associated with Subduction
  • 3.A.6 Melting at Rifts and Mid-Ocean Ridges
  • 3.A.7 Melting at Hot Spots

Lesson 3B: Introduction to Igneous Rocks

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • 3.B.1 Introduction to Igneous Rocks
  • 3.B.2 What Are Igneous Rocks Composed Of?
  • 3.B.3 When Molten Rock Solidifies

Lesson 3C: Types of Eruptions

    • 8 Videos
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8 Videos

  • 3.C.1 Types of Volcanic Eruptions
  • 3.C.2 Magma and Lava with Gas
  • 3.C.3 Eruption Materials
  • 3.C.4 Pyroclastic Debris
  • 3.C.5 Three Different Volcano Shapes
  • 3.C.6 Eruption Styles and Case Studies
  • 3.C.7 Case Studies of Volcanic Explosions: Pompeii, Present-Day Italy
  • 3.C.8 Super Volcanoes in the Geologic Record

Lesson 3D: Volcanic Hazards

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • 3.D.1 Volcanic Hazards, Part 1
  • 3.D.2 Volcanic Hazards, Part 2

Lesson 3E: Monitoring Volcanic Activity

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • 3.E.1 Predicting Volcanic Eruptions
  • 3.E.2 Dealing with Volcanic Hazards

Week 3 Activities

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 3 Quiz
  • Week 3 Assignment
  • Week 3 Lab

1 Discussions

  • Week 3 Discussion

1 Videos

  • Week 3 Lab: Volcanoes! Lab Introduction

Week 4 Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 4 Overview

Lesson 4A: Earth Materials

    • 4 Videos
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4 Videos

  • 4.A.1 Basic Classes of Earth Materials
  • 4.A.2 Origin of Earth Materials
  • 4.A.3 Defining Minerals
  • 4.A.4 Clues for Identifying Minerals

Lesson 4B: Rock Classes

    • 6 Videos
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6 Videos

  • 4.B.1 Introducing Classes of Rocks
  • 4.B.2 The Nature of Igneous Rocks
  • 4.B.3 Different Types of Sedimentary Rocks
  • 4.B.4 Formation of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
  • 4.B.5 Primary Sedimentary Structures and Sedimentary Basins
  • 4.B.6 Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks

Lesson 4C: Changing Rocks

    • 4 Videos
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4 Videos

  • 4.C.1 How Rocks Can Change
  • 4.C.2 Metamorphic Rocks Part 1
  • 4.C.3 Metamorphic Rocks Part 2
  • 4.C.4 The Rock Cycle

Lesson 4D: Using Rocks

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • 4.D.1 The Practical Uses of Rocks
  • 4.D.2 The Nature of Metal Ore Deposits
  • 4.D.3 Global Steel Usage

Lesson 4E: Non-metallic Resources

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • 4.E.1 Non-Metallic Minerals – Concrete and Crushed Rock
  • 4.E.2 Other Non-Metallic Resources – Brick, Gypsum, Dimension Stone

Week 4 Activities

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 4 Quiz
  • Week 4 Assignment
  • Week 4 Lab

1 Peer Review

  • Weeks 3-4 Discussion Samples

1 Discussions

  • Week 4 Discussion

Week 5 Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Week 5 Overview

Lesson 5A: Energy Introduction

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • 5.A.1. Energy Resources from the Earth
  • 5.A.2. Human Use of Energy Over Time

Lesson 5B: Coal

    • 5 Videos
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5 Videos

  • 5.B.1. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 1
  • 5.B.2. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 2
  • 5.B.3. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 3
  • 5.B.4. Problems Associated with Coal Mining
  • 5.B.5. Problems Associated with Coal Use

Lesson 5C: Oil

    • 5 Videos
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5 Videos

  • 5.C.1. Formation of Hydrocarbons: Oil and Gas
  • 5.C.2. Conventional vs. Non-Conventional Hydrocarbons: Conventional Reserves
  • 5.C.3. Exploring and Drilling for Oil
  • 5.C.4. Transporting and Refining Oil
  • 5.C.5. Where Does Oil Occur, and Why?

Lesson 5D: Shale Gas

    • 4 Videos
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4 Videos

  • 5.D.1. Non-Conventional Hydrocarbons: Tar Sands and Oil Shale
  • 5.D.2. Natural Gas
  • 5.D.3. Obtaining Shale Gas: Hydrofracturing
  • 5.D.4. Challenges Associated with Obtaining Shale Gas

Lesson 5E: Hazards and Alternatives

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • 5.E.1. Some Hazards of Oil Production
  • 5.E.2. Alternative Energy Resources

Week 5 Activities

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Plugin
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 5 Quiz
  • Week 5 Assignment
  • Week 5 Lab

1 Discussions

  • Week 5 Discussion

Auto Summary

Explore the dynamic phenomena that shape our planet in "Planet Earth...and You!" This foundational course in Science & Engineering, taught on Coursera, delves into earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, and natural disasters, highlighting their causes, effects, and implications for our future. Over 2520 minutes, learners will gain a geological perspective on these processes and their impact on Earth's resources. Subscription options include Starter, Professional, and Paid tiers, catering to those passionate about understanding and addressing environmental and sustainability challenges. Perfect for anyone eager to learn about the forces that mold our world.

Dr. Stephen Marshak
Instructors

Dr. Stephen Marshak

Dr. Eileen Herrstrom
Instructors

Dr. Eileen Herrstrom